Sciaretta’s Scouting Report
Shock, Shock: Freiburg Expertise Earns U-20 Name
Brian Sciaretta lands the primary interview with Eric Lickert, a rising star within the Freiburg youth system who obtained a name from Tab Ramos and can be a part of the USA U-20 squad at its subsequent camp.
ASN Slideshow
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
January 03, 2014
11:19 AM
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ERIC LICKERT WAS NERVOUS after a latest U-19 sport. His coach wished to see him. In all his years at SC Freiburg, his hometown membership that he joined on the U-13 degree, this was exceedingly uncommon habits. Had he achieved one thing incorrect?
The information got here as a whole shock, however a very good one.
“Everyone was still tired but he came up to me, said that I played really well, and that I was invited to play for the U.S [U-20] national team,” Lickert instructed American Soccer Now. “He said he was really proud of me, that it was a gift, and that I should take that gift and do my best. I was really surprised. I would never have thought I would get an invitation.”
The information of a U.S. U-20 call-up was sudden for Lickert despite the fact that the 18-year-old visits his maternal grandparents and household in Minneapolis recurrently. He has by no means lived in the USA and had no concept the American teaching workers was watching. Lickert is not sure how Tab Ramos even found him.
“I just want to play soccer [at the highest level] possible,” he mentioned. “I don’t really mind playing soccer for Germany or for the United States. But I’m definitely glad I got an invitation and so I’m focusing on the U.S. national team right now, of course.”
At Freiburg, Lickert performs primarily as a holding midfielder and that has at all times been his major and favourite place. Earlier this season he performed on the suitable wing sometimes and final season he performed a stretch at proper again.
He has progressed by means of each degree of Freiburg and has the objective of breaking into the U-23 crew in 2014.
As he travels to the Florida on Friday for the U-20 camp, Lickert says his feelings are in every single place. He does know some American gamers, like Georgetown’s Alex Muyl (who may even be on the camp in Florida), Tijuana’s Paul Arriola, and Hoffenheim’s Russell Canouse who will be the U.S U-20 captain this cycle.
One in all Lickert’s closest American buddies concerned in soccer is 2013 U.S. U-20 captain Caleb Stanko. Stanko is presently with Freiburg’s U-23’s the place he is likely one of the crew leaders. Stanko has identified Lickert for a number of years now and is assured he’ll have an effect on the crew.
“Eric is a solid center midfielder and is versatile enough to play multiple positions on the field,” Stanko mentioned. “I think one of his strongest attributes is his vision on the field. I think Eric will do very well with the U-20s and should fit in right away with the guys.”
Regardless of his familiarity with a couple of American gamers, Lickert’s journey to Florida for his first style of worldwide soccer might be a visit into the unknown with unsure expectations. He does, nevertheless, notice the chance in entrance of him.
“I guess I’m a little bit nervous too because I don’t know too many of the players,” Lickert defined. “But I’m definitely excited and I’m really motivated because I want to prove myself. I know it’s a big honor to play with them. My expectations are all completely open to me. I hope that I’ll learn a lot because I know that Tab Ramos is a very good coach. I expect I’ll gain some experience that maybe I would not gain in Europe.”
